pudding

Banana pudding is one of those desserts that I will never tire of. It’s nostalgic, incredibly easy to make and yet it still manages to be a show-stopping dessert that takes people’s breath away (or at least mine). Over the years, I’ve shared a few banana pudding inspired recipes on the blog, and I hold each and every one of them close to my heart. There was that one time I turned it into ice cream and I’m still dreaming about it. How can we forget about this decadent Banana Pudding Cake? One of the most popular posts in the archives, from way back when I first started blogging, is this Bourbon Banana Pudding Cheesecake and I can easily say it’s a dream come true. Last but not least, there was that time I combined my love of banana pudding with rice pudding and the result was beautiful as it was delicious. Recently, when I was looking back at the banana pudding recipes on the blog, I realized I didn’t have a classic recipe. As some of you know by now though, I can’t always do simple and classic, so of course I decided to make a classic banana pudding but with a bit of a twist. This one is topped with homemade meringue that is toasted, giving it a marshmallowy/camp-fire taste to it that I think makes it perfect for summer. Let’s Cheers to the Weekend with a giant spoonful (or two) of this classic dessert.

As I’ve gotten older I’ve realized that making decisions can be very difficult. Like what should I make for dinner, what movie should we watch, and what to do on our day off? Trying to come up with a definitive answer takes too much time, and time isn’t always something we have enough of, am I right? So when it comes to deciding between vanilla, chocolate, or strawberry, I’m usually at a loss. How can you pick one over the other? That’s like a parent choosing their favorite child. It can’t be done (well it shouldn’t be done). This is why I’m a big fan of Neapolitan flavored anything because you can have all three flavors without sacrificing one over the other. We already make difficult decisions on a regular basis, having to choose between chocolate, vanilla, or strawberry shouldn’t be one of them. These Neapolitan Pudding Parfaits are reminiscent of that classic ice cream flavor but in pudding form. Homemade chocolate, vanilla and strawberry pudding are layered into small dishes and topped with whipped cream and finished off with chocolate shavings. It’s a dessert to end all desserts this summer, and if you’re thinking that these parfaits would be a great thing to make and eat this weekend, while you’re lounging around, then you thought right and I think it’s a wonderful idea.

Because it’s Monday and because we all need a little help to get us through the work week—I don’t know about you, but I’ve already started counting down to the weekend—I bring to you Caramelized Banana Rice Pudding. Cue the music, part the clouds and shine the light directly on us right this very second. This pudding should make these grueling weekdays a tiny bit more bearable, don’t you think? It’s like regular rice pudding but one hundred times better because salted caramel and bananas are involved. I think by now we all know how salted caramel takes everything to the next level. It’s liquid gold is what it is. I don’t have to tell you that, though. You already know this. So why don’t I tell you something you don’t know. Like as a kid I used to beg my mom to make rice pudding all the time. Although, I refused to eat it warm. No way, what am I an animal? I’d have to wait rather impatiently until it got super cold, it was a necessity, and only when it was properly chilled did I go in and eat more than my fair share. As a child I’d douse the top completely with cinnamon. Now as an adult I still refuse to eat it warm, but now instead of cinnamon, I douse it completely with salted caramelized bananas. It just makes perfect sense.

I don’t know if you’re aware of it or not, but I’m no stranger to salted caramel. The two of us go way back. These Salted Caramel Dark Chocolate Cookies are as big as your head and they’re not only filled with caramel but they also get a drizzle of the stuff right out of the oven. Just making it rain down salted caramel. It’s my only goal in life. And because I’m so head over heels obsessed with doughnuts I just had to remind you about these Baked Salted Caramel Chocolate Doughnuts. They will haunt your dreams but in a good way, I promise. Speaking of dreams and caramel and bananas, how could we forget about the ultimate of dessert collaborations that are Chunky Monkey Sticky Buns. If you have yet to make them happen, then you need to remedy that this weekend. Get going on this rice pudding first though, and then move on to the sticky buns. Trust me on this, I know what’s best for you. Don’t give it a second thought. In fact, don’t think about it at all, just go ahead and eat your weight in salted caramel and bananas. It’s what I’m going to do and I won’t regret it.

Oh Circus Animal Cookies, why are you so good to me? I can’t live without you and your deliciousness. I’m not ashamed to admit that you are one of my guilty pleasures. It’s my love for you (and zebra cakes) that I’ll never be able to part with. So don’t ever ask me to. I couldn’t picture my life without your pink and white frosting and multi-colored sprinkles. Don’t even get me started on your animal shapes. You’re the cookie of my eye and have been ever since I was a kid. I love you so much that I knew I just had to create a dessert that featured and highlighted your amazing taste and flavor. I didn’t think I’d be able to do you justice, especially because you’re so great all on your own. With that in mind, though, these Circus Animal Cookie Popsicles were born and I’m not looking back. Not only did you become ten times more irresistible, you also became the perfect summer treat. It’s like nothing you do can be wrong, and I love you even more for it.

If you’re anything like me and share my undying love for these store-bought cookies, then you’re going to want to start taking notes because this recipe has your name written all over it. Do you like popsicles? Do you like cookies? Do you sometimes feel like cookies and popsicles just aren’t enough by themselves? Did you ever wish that you could combine the two into one delicious treat? Yeah, me too. Me too all the time. That’s why I’m sharing these popsicles with you right now so that you can add them to your must-make list. Go ahead and move them right to the top because the longer you wait, the longer you’ll be depriving yourself of something unbelievable. What kind of friend would I be if I allowed that to happen?

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